IP Library Granted Patent US 12,421,070
Granted Patent B2
US 12,421,070 · App. 17/778,903 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Measurement device and method for detecting local thickenings in a film web

Inventors: Alexander Paulus (Leverkusen, DE); Klaus Meyer (Dormagen, DE); Joerg Nickel (Dormagen, DE); Jan Holtermann (Neuss-Grefrath, DE)
Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
B65H26/02B29C48/0022B29C48/21B29C48/355B29C48/92B29C2948/92152B29C2948/92647B65H2511/13B65H2511/16B65H2511/166B65H2511/52B65H2701/1752
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,421,070
App. No.
17/778,903
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a measurement device ( 10 ) for detecting local thickenings in a film web ( 20 ), more particularly an extrusion and/or coextrusion film, having a first roll ( 14 ) for rolling on the film web ( 20 ) that can be moved along, a second roll ( 18 ) that can be supported indirectly above the film web ( 20 ) on the first roll ( 14 ) for rolling on the film web ( 20 ) that can be moved along, wherein the second roll ( 18 ) is resiliently guided in the thickness direction of the film web ( 20 ) that can be moved along, more particularly in the vertical direction, and at least one distance sensor ( 24 ) that is stationary with respect to the first roll ( 14 ) and/or to the film web ( 20 ) that can be moved along, for detecting a distance of the second roll ( 18 ). The second roll ( 18 ), which can be displaced from a local thickening of the film web ( 20 ) in the thickness direction of the film web ( 20 ), makes it possible to quickly and easily detect local thickenings in a film web ( 20 ).

Claims (21)

1. A measurement device for detecting local thickenings in a film web ( 20 ) comprising at least one of an extruded film and a co-extruded film, having

a first roll ( 14 ) for rolling on the film web ( 20 ) configured to be moved along continuously,

a second roll ( 18 ) that can be supported indirectly above the film web ( 20 ) on the first roll ( 14 ) for rolling on the film web ( 20 ) configured to be moved along continuously,

wherein the second roll ( 18 ) is resiliently guided in the thickness direction of the film web ( 20 ) configured to be moved along continuously in the vertical direction,

wherein at least one distance sensor ( 24 ), fixed in position relative to at least one of the first roll ( 14 ) and the film web ( 20 ) configured to be moved along continuously for detecting a distance of the second roll ( 18 ) during continuous movement of the film web,

wherein the first roll ( 14 ) is rotatably mounted in a first frame part ( 12 ),

wherein the second roll ( 18 ) is rotatably mounted and guided linearly in a second frame part ( 16 ),

wherein the second frame part ( 16 ) is coupled to the first frame part ( 12 ) configured to be pivoted between a closed position and an open position for maintenance access to the continuously moving film web, and

wherein, the second frame part ( 16 ) is configured to be locked against movement with the first frame part ( 12 ) when in the closed position to maintain stable measurement conditions during continuous film web movement.

2. The measurement device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one distance sensor ( 24 ) is configured as a sensor measuring without contact, wherein the second roll ( 18 ) completely shades at least one of the first roll ( 14 ) and the film web ( 20 ) from the at least one distance sensor ( 24 ).

3. The measurement device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one distance sensor ( 24 ) is fixed to the second frame part ( 16 ).

4. The measurement device as claimed in claim 1 , further including an evaluation device coupled to the at least one distance sensor ( 24 ), wherein the evaluation device is configured to output a signal in the event of a distance change of the second roll ( 18 ) relative to the at least one distance sensor ( 24 ) that exceeds a predefined threshold value, wherein the signal can be further processed by a marking device that is configured to be connected to one of the evaluation device for marking a length section of the film web that is determined to be defective and a cutting device configured to be connected to the evaluation device for severing a length section of the film web ( 20 ) that is determined to be defective.

5. A conveying section for conveying a film web ( 20 ), comprising one of an extruded film and a co-extruded film, having a forward drive device configured for driving the film web ( 20 ) forward, a measurement device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 for detecting local thickenings in the film web ( 10 ) guided through the measurement device ( 10 ), a web cleaning device ( 28 ) connected upstream of the measurement device ( 10 ) configured for at least one of separating contaminants, neutralizing static charges by means of at least one applied ion cloud and extracting the contaminants.

6. A method for detecting local thickenings in a film web ( 20 ), comprising at least one of an extruded film and a co-extruded film during continuous production line operation, with aid of a measurement device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , the method comprising the steps

continuously moving the film web ( 20 ) between the first roll ( 14 ) and the second roll ( 18 ) supported on the first roll ( 14 ) during ongoing extrusion or co-extrusion production, wherein the second roll ( 18 ) is guided resiliently in the thickness direction of the film web ( 20 ) during continuous movement in the vertical direction while maintaining stable measurement conditions through a locked frame configuration,

continuously detecting a distance change of the second roll ( 18 ) relative to the first roll ( 14 ) during continuous movement of the film web, the distance changes being, caused by pimple shaped local thickenings that occur during the extrusion or co-extrusion process, and

outputting a real-time signal during continuous production when a distance change of the second roll ( 18 ) exceeding a predefined threshold value is detected for immediate production line response by at least one of:

(a) a marking device for marking a length section of the continuously moving film web ( 20 ) that contains the detected local thickening and

(b) a cutting device for severing a length section of the film web ( 20 ) that contains the detected local thickening,

wherein the detection and processing occur without interrupting the continuous production flow.

7. The measurement device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one distance sensor ( 24 ) is a laser rangefinder.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Oct 29, 2024
From: COVESTRO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GMBH & CO. KG
To: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
Reel/Frame 069272/0414 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2022
From: PAULUS, ALEXANDER; MEYER, KLAUS; NICKEL, JOERG; HOLTERMANN, JAN
To: COVESTRO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 059979/0664 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19215539 · Dec 12, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220412724A1 · Dec 29, 2022
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